At a Glance

Music and literature come together for this inspiring learning adventure in beautiful Winter Park, Florida! Tap your toes to the sounds of some of Hollywood’s earliest and most memorable music as you screen film clips and discuss the musicians who made these songs famous. Then, “journey” across the U.S. with John Steinbeck as you discuss his novel, “Travels with Charley,” based on a cross-country trip he took with his beloved poodle. Delve further into literature as you consider the works of Emily Bronte and Emily Dickenson, and consider how their writings were influenced by — and surpassed – the social norms of their times.

Best of all, you'll ...

View film clips and discuss the works of composers who created the musical soundtracks to some of Hollywood’s most notable early movies.

Trace the journey of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s in his novel “Travels with Charley.”

Delve into the works of Emily Bronte and Emily Dickenson, and consider how their writing transcended the societal limitations of their eras.

Afternoon: Program Registration 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. In Building 300, the building you are facing when you pull into the center, come to the Road Scholar table to meet your Group Leader, receive your room assignment, and your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: In the dining room, we’ll have our welcome buffet dinner with coffee, tea, and water.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Each lecture topic will be led by a local expert. Water, juice, tea and coffee will be available in the dining room throughout the program. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We'll then gather in our meeting room for a special presentation on "The Power of Place" from Paul Jacob, one of our local experts. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY

2

Hollywood Music, The Two Emilys, “Travels With Charley”

Winter Park, Florida

B,L,D

San Pedro Center

Activity note: Minimal walking throughout the day.

Breakfast: In the dining room, we will have a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of items, plus coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll gather in our meeting room with our local expert for our first class as we begin to explore memorable music from Hollywood. From the onset of sound movies in 1927 began an era during which many songs emerged from Hollywood including many early academy award winning songs like “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Thanks for the Memory,” “Over the Rainbow” and “The Last Time I Saw Paris.” After a break for snacks and coffee, we’ll regroup and move on to begin our journey with the two Emilys. We’ll get to know Emily Bronte of Victorian England and Emily Dickinson of Puritan America as we learn who these literary giants were and how their backgrounds shaped their literary masterpieces.

Lunch: Retreat center buffet.

Afternoon: Our next lecture will focus on famous American author John Steinbeck and his book “Travels with Charley.” Published in 1980, the novel follows Steinbeck’s journey of discovery through his 1960 road trip across the country with his French poodle Charley. Driving through nearly 40 states, Steinbeck falls in love with nature, witnesses the heart of the civil rights movement, and much more.

Dinner: Retreat center plated meal.

Evening: A local expert speaker will then join us in our meeting room at the retreat center for a special presentation on an area of their expertise.

DAY

3

Music From the 20s & 30s, Masterpieces, Steinbeck & The 60s

Winter Park, Florida

B,L,D

San Pedro Center

Breakfast: Retreat center buffet.

Morning: Picking up where we left off, we’ll start our day learning about some of the Hollywood music songwriters and listening to some of the Hollywood music in response to the issues of the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. Today’s second class on Bronte and Dickinson will continue to focus on their works of great originality and beauty including Dickinson’s “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.”

Lunch: Retreat center buffet.

Afternoon: We’ll continue to explore more of the journeys of John Steinbeck and Charley as they make their way across the eastern United States encountering shifting attitudes and American restlessness.

Dinner: Retreat center plated meal.

Evening: We'll then gather in our meeting room for an entertaining talk given by one of our local speakers.

Morning: In Memorable Music from Hollywood, we enter the "Golden Era" of musical films from the 1950s and 1960s exploring the hit songs which originated from musical and dramatic films. Through our next lecture featuring the “Two Emilys,” we will continue to learn more about these two writers' love of nature and deep understanding of the human heart.

Lunch: Retreat center buffet.

Afternoon: We’ll then board a bus for a quick ride to Winter Park where we’ll enjoy a relaxing, narrated, one-hour cruise through the lakes and canals of historic Winter Park—the only 'true' way to see the beauty of Winter Park. On any given ride, participants may observe large cranes swooping waterside to snag a large fish or a lazy alligator languishing on a nearby bank. Every time, however, guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers. Breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores are also a key feature of the scenic boat ride. Following our ride, we’ll head back to the retreat center.

Dinner: Retreat center plated meal.

Evening: Making up for lost time, we will meet to continue discussing Steinbeck and his “Travels with Charley.”

DAY

5

Hollywood’s Golden Era Music, Farewell Dinner, Performance

Winter Park, Florida

B,L,D

San Pedro Center

Breakfast: Retreat center buffet.

Morning: We’ll continue our course study of memorable music from Hollywood by exploring the "Golden Era" while looking at actual film clips of important songs in the context of each show's plot. Next, we’ll further explore Emily Dickinson's poetry and Emily Bronte's novel, “Wuthering Heights” – both iconic works.

Lunch: Retreat center buffet.

Afternoon: Tagging along with Steinbeck and Charley as they continue their travels, we’ll compare the prevalent attitudes of 1960 regarding community, regionalism, nostalgia, and home with those of today. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a walk on our beautiful grounds led by our Group Leader.

Dinner: At the retreat center, we will have a special candlelit plated dinner complete with champagne to celebrate our week of learning. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends as our week slowly draws to a close.

Evening: To top off the evening, we’ll enjoy some local professional entertainment at the retreat center. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures after lunch tomorrow.

DAY

6

Recap of the Week, Program Concludes

Winter Park, Florida

B,L

Activity note: Check-out by 1:00 p.m.

Breakfast: Retreat center buffet.

Morning: Gathering together in our meeting room, we’ll take a final look at each of the subjects we covered over the week and review what we learned.

Lunch: At the retreat center, we’ll have a leisurely buffet lunch. This concludes our program.

Afternoon: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

15 Meals

5 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

5 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Fat, Vegetarian

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Walk the Labyrinth, an ancient meditative prayer form. Enjoy the boardwalk that meanders through lush green woods and ends at a dock by the lake. Watch the many birds that nest around the water, eagles, osprey, great blue heron, wild turkey and more. Or, walk under a hammock of oaks and cypress trees to reach a second dock where you can enjoy the lake, sun and scenery. Join the Franciscan Friars for Morning Prayer and/or Mass each morning – participate or come to observe. San Pedro’s staff welcomes you and invites you to make this your home away from home during your Road Scholar stay.